Researchers have developed an adhesive patch to measure blood sugar through the skin without having to prick your finger.
It is a small revolution in the world of diabetics. Scientists have created an adhesive patch that measures blood sugar levels through the skin without having to prick your finger, as millions of sufferers are currently doing every day.
Reservoirs
The patch, which can simply be attached to the wrist, sucks glucose from the liquid present within the cavities in which the hairs originate and measures it. A network of miniature sensors using a small electric current access each of these mini-tanks individually.
The University of Bath research team, which unveils this breakthrough in Nature Nanotechnology, hopes to soon make this patch a financially accessible blood sugar measuring instrument for all diabetics.
“We used graphene as one of the components because it brings important advantages: it is strong, conductive, flexible, potentially inexpensive and environmentally friendly. In addition, our design can be implemented using high-throughput manufacturing techniques like screen printing, ”explains researcher Adelina Ilie.
Sensors
The patch was first tested on the skin of pigs and then on the skin of healthy humans. The next steps in the research are aimed at perfecting the design of the patch in order to optimize its number of sensors and demonstrate its functionality over a 24 hour period. Less restrictive and less repellent, this effective and non-invasive way of monitoring blood sugar could help diabetics and potentially diabetic people to better manage and prevent the disease, the progression of which depends in part on an inadequate lifestyle.
Diabetes is a worsening public health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that its global incidence will drop from 171 million to 366 million in 2030. In France, 3.7 million people take drug treatment for their diabetes *, or 5.4% of the total. population. Added to this are people with diabetes who ignore each other, a prevalence that continues to increase in France, particularly among men.
On the occasion of the 2018 Congress of the Francophone Society of Diabetes which took place in Nantes from March 20 to 23, 2018, Novo Nordisk, global specialist in diabetes, announced the creation of diabetes.fr, a site designed to provide diabetic patients with quality information, validated by healthcare professionals and in conjunction with patient associations.
* Insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes) affects more than 90% of diabetics. Insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) known as “type 1 diabetes” affects about 10% of diabetics.
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